We are always grateful for feedback on the program and the Global Scholar experience. While the vast majority of participants love this experience, we appreciate feedback that challenges us. Your review warrants a response as it stands out so starkly from the overwhelmingly great feedback we received about last summer’s program (Check out reviews from the rest of our 2019 participants here: https://ampglobalyouth.org/global-scholar-impact/).
Students who attend Global Scholar stand out because of their passion for global issues, their curiosity about the world around them, and their eagerness to lead change in their communities. The Global Scholar program focuses on who we ARE in the world, as much as what we KNOW about the world. We make it very clear that the program centers on 1) exploring global challenges through conversations with experts in the field, 2) building skills for social change through our signature Action Lab workshops, and 3) exploring careers in international affairs. The skill-building element of our program makes us stand out from any other program on global issues, and we highlight it extensively in all of our materials. While that may not be what you were looking for, it’s definitely what we promised. (Refer to our website here: https://ampglobalyouth.org/global-scholar-curriculum/).
In this review and in a separate anonymous feedback you sent us you have belittled your peers, the staff, the curriculum and the speakers. You seem to have closed yourself off to the learning ever-present in the world around you. That is a huge loss. We urge you to do better.
Think you’re smarter than your peers? Our class this year was stellar. We hope you took time to engage, debate and learn from them.
Unimpressed with the leaders and organizations you met during this program, including the World Bank, United Nations Foundation, or Aspen Institute (to quote your review)? Why? These are leading global institutions. What should exist in their place? How could you be part of transforming them?
Engage constructively and with integrity. Your direct feedback to us was deeply disrespectful (including cursing at program staff) and anonymous. Own your opinions. Don’t write things you wouldn’t put your name on. Stand behind what you believe. The world needs that.
Finally, we will certainly keep your comments about food and museums in mind for next year. We visit both the food trucks and the American History Museum because earlier generations of Scholars loved those experiences. And it’s a long-standing and popular tradition to have Ethiopian food on the last night!
We’ve run this program for the past 12 years, and more broadly engaged over 100,000 youth since we were founded by students at Yale after 9/11, because we believe so deeply in the power of young leaders to transform our world. That includes you. We hope you’ll keep exploring issues you care about, learn from those around you, engage critically, and do great things. Our faith in you is unwavering.